Mixed Tunisian reactions to Foreign Policy

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TUNIS 001092

SIPDIS

STATE FOR ECA/PE/V/R/N (KOTOB/MOODY); NEA/PPD (GLAZIER);
NEA/MAG (LAWRENCE)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO OEXC SCUL TS
SUBJECT: Mixed Tunisian reactions to Foreign Policy
Program



1. SUMMARY: While both of the Tunisian participants in
the April 2005 Foreign Policy IV program were favorably
impressed by American society, their impressions of the
content of the program were quite varied. Ahlem ben Ali,
a Tunisian journalist, related that she had learned many
interesting and instructive things about the U.S.
government, the role of the media, and civil society;
Ahmed Idriss, a Tunisian university professor who teaches
international relations, noted that he had not learned
much from the substantive program that he did not already
know and was disappointed at the level of interlocutors
with whom they met. End Summary.


2. ACTIVITY: FY-05 RP "Foreign Policy Decision-Making
Process"; EVDB Project number 2005-0009.


3. DATES: April 18 - May 6, 2005


4. OBJECTIVE: To expose participants to the
constitutional and historical relationship between the
executive, legislative, and judicial branches of
government and to provide a clear understanding of the
process of foreign-policy decision-making in the U.S. In
the case of Ms. Ben Ali, the goal was to provide her with
context for her coverage of U.S. foreign policy. For Mr.
Idriss, the goal was to improve his knowledge of how
foreign policy is determined in the U.S.


5. MPP GOAL: Democracy and Mutual Understanding.


6. IMPACT: Outstanding for Ms. Ben Ali. Ms. Ben Ali
noted that the entire program, including all of the
meetings and all of the interaction with the American
people, were informative and helped her to better
understand both American government and society. She was
most impressed with the openness of all of the people she
met, whether they were official interlocutors or people
on the street, and remarked that she was surprised how
interested Americans were in understanding the Arab
viewpoint. She was also thankful that the official
interlocutors made every effort to answer all of the
participants' questions. She particularly appreciated
the visit to an elementary school and the opportunity to
present Tunisia to American children. Her one negative
comment was that she noted that "civil society in the
U.S. was not capable of influencing the government."
When pressed, she stated that she was disappointed to see
that money was the main factor that seemed to effect U.S.
government decision-making, alluding to the relative
strength of AIPAC versus the Arab-American organizations.

Good for Mr. Idriss. Mr. Idriss mentioned that certain
meetings were very useful, in particular the meeting with
A/S Rodman at the Pentagon and the visit to the
university in Columbia, Missouri. The rest of the
meetings he found disappointing, particularly given the
fact that the interlocutors with whom they spoke were
often "of a lower quality" than those originally promised
in the program given to them prior to their departure.
It would appear, that given Mr. Idriss' pre-existing
knowledge of U.S. government systems, he was hoping to
have a more profound discussion on foreign policy issues,
rather than the more introductory look at U.S. systems
that he received.


7. CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK: Both participants complimented
the program organization and the quality of the
translators. Both participants suggested that
participants be provided at the outset with a list of how
much they would have to pay for each night's stay,
including the costs of breakfast if not included in the
rate, so that they can better budget their stay in the
U.S. They were both disappointed at not having had the
opportunity for home hospitality. (Mr. Idriss was
disturbed that a Meridian official had "tried to tell us
that the visit to the farm in Missouri was home
hospitality.") Both participants also regretted not
having met with any think tanks in the U.S. Mr. Idriss
stated that the participants did not quite understand the
health insurance coverage provided in the program and
noted that this confusion troubled some participants who
became ill during the program. Given Mr. Idriss'
disappointment in the change in the level of
interlocutors, Post suggests that names of officials be
left out of the program so as not to raise false
expectations. Neither participant experienced airport
delays.


8. BRINGING LESSONS BACK HOME: Despite the negative
feedback on the program contents, Mr. Idriss did return
with a profound respect for the openness and kindness of
the American people and for the organization skills of
American society. He is sure to pass these impressions
on to his students. Ms. Ben Ali's important exposure to
the context in which U.S. foreign policy is made will
inform her writings. She is in the process of preparing
a series of articles for the bilingual weekly magazine
for which she writes.


9. QUALITY OF ECA AND PROGRAM AGENCY SUPPORT: Excellent.

HUDSON